FILE - In this May 7, 2013, file photo, Ottawa Senators' Daniel Alfredsson celebrates the Senators' 3-2 overtime win against the Montreal Canadiens in Game 4 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series in Ottawa, Ontario. Alfredsson is joining the Detroit Red Wings to make a one-year run at the Stanley Cup, and Stephen Weiss is in it for the long haul in the Motor City. Detroit got a deal done mere minutes after NHL teams could sign free agents on Friday afternoon, July 5, 2013, with Alfredsson, and agreed to terms with Weiss a couple hours later. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Fred Chartrand, File)

The Red Wings continue to prove the notion of their imminent demise was greatly exaggerated.

They didn't miss the playoffs this past season. They won a playoff series and pushed the eventual Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks far harder than any other team before being ousted in the Western Conference semifinals.

Now the Red Wings have proven the idea they are no longer a prime destination for free agents couldn't have been more false.

Stephen Weiss, a consistent 20 or more goal scorer and an excellent two-way center, clearly targeted Detroit when he became a free agent. So did Daniel Alfredsson , Ottawa's captain for eons, who desperately wants to play on a Stanley Cup championship team.

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The moves not only figure to benefit the Red Wings greatly on the ice, but also re-establishes their cache as one of the NHL's "have" teams.

Mixed in with signing goalie Jimmy Howard during the regular season (he might have been the top free agent had he hit the market as an unrestricted free agent) and signing Pavel Datsyuk to a contract extension, the Red Wings are set to make Stanley Cup playoff runs the next couple seasons.

Last season was billed as a "transition" year. It's a term which is often used as an excuse for a rebuilding plan that doesn't work (just ask the Pistons) than anything tangible.

But in the Red Wings' case, it was just exactly that - a transformation from an older team that was being pieced together with veterans to one that is exceptionally balanced.

The Red Wings infused a lot of young players into their lineup last season with excellent results. Yet, they still have a mixture of veterans on their roster from pretty much every age group.

The Red Wings in 2013-14 won't necessarily be an older team or a younger team. They will be a balanced team.

Weiss is essentially replacing departed free agent Valterri Filppula. In regard to talent, it's a wash. Filppula didn't have his best season last year, but was a good two-way player for the Red Wings for a long period. It's not a coincidence he received a five-year, $25 million deal from Tampa Bay and general manager Steve Yzerman. Obviously, Yzerman is a top hockey mind and very familiar with Filppula. Filppula followed his best season in 2011-12 with his one of his worst in 2013, but he wasn't going to be easily replaced. Weiss is a capable replacement. He was once the fourth overall pick in the NHL Draft. He is a better goal scorer than Filppula and his skill was wasted with Florida, one of the NHL's deadbeat franchises.

Alfredsson was once one of the NHL's best players, but it is questionable how much he has left in the tank. I specifically recall watching him the last couple seasons and trying to access how good a player he remains. At times, he's looked like the Daniel Alfredsson of old. Other times, he's looked like an old Daniel Alfredsson.

This could be similar to a decade or so ago when the Red Wings landed Brett Hull and Luc Robitaille.

They were premier players on the downside of their careers when they came to Detroit. However, they fit specific roles on the Red Wings perfectly.

Ideally, the Red Wings will address their defense with a signing or two. They have depth along the blue line, but could use one more experienced NHL defenseman. They are still young on defense.

But the Red Wings are a better team now than a year ago at this time. They are a better team now than they were a week ago, too.